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By Aurax Radio | June 23, 2026 | 2 min read
A Palestinian teenager was killed in Gaza City while traveling to take an end-of-year school examination, according to relatives and health officials. The incident has renewed attention on civilian casualties as military operations continue despite a ceasefire that has been repeatedly strained by violence.
Family members and residents attend the funeral of 16-year-old Raghad Hassan Ashour in Gaza City on June 22, 2026.
A 16-year-old Palestinian girl was killed Monday in Gaza City after an Israeli strike hit an area in the Rimal neighborhood where she was walking to sit an 11th-grade examination, according to relatives and local medical officials. The teenager, identified as Raghad Hassan Ashour, was among civilians caught in the blast, which also left several other people injured. Israeli authorities said the operation targeted a Hamas militant and acknowledged reports that a civilian may have been harmed during the strike.
The killing occurred as students across Gaza continued efforts to complete academic examinations amid ongoing instability and widespread destruction caused by the war. Funeral prayers for the teenager were held later the same day in Gaza City. Her death drew attention to the challenges facing civilians in the territory, where military operations have persisted despite a ceasefire agreement reached last year. Palestinian health authorities report that hundreds of people have been killed since the truce took effect, while Israel says it continues to target militants and responds to violations by armed groups.
The war began in October 2023 when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its public figures. International mediators have continued efforts to preserve the ceasefire and advance broader negotiations, but recurring strikes and clashes have highlighted the fragility of the agreement and the ongoing risks facing civilians throughout the enclave.
Sources: Information from The Associated Press, The Washington Post and Al Jazeera.